Devilish Mate

30

15

Hannah

W

ith a sigh, I plopped into my favorite chair in the library. It was my favorite place in the penthouse to relax, and after that training session, damn, I deserved a break. I’d fought Azazel and Callan together for the first time, and they’d kicked my ass. But we’d all known it wasn’t actually a fair fight—at least not yet. There would come a day when I’d take them on and beat them, I was certain of it. Alas, that day was definitely not today.

I shifted and groaned, wishing my angelic healing would hurry up already. I’d landed hard on the roof, courtesy of Zel’s enthusiasm, and if I'd been human I probably would have broken something. At the very least I would have sported a nice bruise, but because I was an angel, I only had some temporary discomfort while my body healed itself. One of the best perks of immortality for sure.

It had been a week since I'd returned to Las Vegas, and Zel and Callan now had to work really hard for their wins during our combat practice. My other training was going well too. Olivia helped me remember different aspects of angel and demon history and culture, while also getting me up to date on all the changes that had happened in the last forty years. Bastien taught me to regain control of my powers, and I annoyed everyone by reading their auras whenever I saw them. Lucifer's was especially intriguing to me, since the ring around his was as black as night, except for a few traces of light that shined through.

After that night with Lucifer, I turned the guest room into my office and personal space, and in my free time I began drawing up plans for Persephone's Garden. Every time I worked on it my excitement grew, and I couldn't wait to start ordering plants and really getting to work. My true self was starting to surface, and I felt more complete than I’d felt in several years—probably since the last time Jophiel had wiped my memory. I was Haniel mixed with Lenore, Persephone, Eve, and many more. A new Hannah, one I created myself.

I stood and walked around the room, trailing my fingers over the spines of the many books, but none called to me today. I came to a halt in front of the sword I’d grabbed from the wall and used against the gargoyles who’d invaded this space not long ago. Muscle memory had kicked in on that night, and I’d fought and defeated them like I was born to do it. I hadn’t known then that I was born to do it

The sword seemed to call to me as I looked at it. I plucked it off the wall, enjoying the weight and craftsmanship, the perfect balance as I held it, so familiar from hundreds of years during which I’d clasped it in my hand. Morningstar. Lucifer’s sword from when he was an angel.

As I balanced its weight and adopted a fighter’s pose, something nudged at the edge of my thoughts, and I studied the sword, turning my hand so it gleamed and reflected the lights in the room. At a mental push, a mere urge, it pulsed with darkness, the only sword in existence infused with both light and dark power.

It responded to Lucifer’s power. Only he could wield it. Lucifer…and me.

As I practiced with the sword, slicing it through the air, running through the familiar series of exercises and remembering what it felt like to fight with it, I lost track of time. Until Kassiel walked into the room.

My youngest son stopped short, staring at me with something like shock.

“Kassiel! It's so good to see you again.” I lowered the blade and offered him a smile. I hadn't seen him since that first meeting, and I was eager to talk to him again, but he looked wary. Almost like he didn't want to see me. "Are you all right?"

“Yes, sorry. It’s just strange seeing you in this body, holding the sword my mother wielded against angels.” He raked a hand through his almost-black hair. “I only knew you as Lenore, and though Father told me about the curse and your reincarnation, I've never experienced it personally. I never met you as Haniel. Until now, anyway.”

My heart broke a little at his words. I was essentially a stranger telling him I was his mother. He hadn't known me in over a century. How could I blame him for being hesitant? I'd lived the last forty years with no memories of having any children, so I didn't feel much like a mother either. I silently raged at the curse, and at Adam, and at Jophiel. They hadn’t only kept me from Lucifer. They'd kept me from my sons too.

I wanted to reach out to Kassiel, but I stopped myself. He didn’t seem ready for that yet. I sighed and set down Morningstar. “When I was Haniel, I wanted to see you, more than you can imagine, but my relationship with Lucifer had to be kept secret at that time. We made plans to tell you, but then Adam found me.”

“I understand.” He smiled, but it looked a bit forced.

I sat in one of the chairs and gestured for him to join me, hoping he would allow me a few moments with him to try to rebuild our relationship. “How are you? How have you been? I’m sorry that I missed so many years.”

“It's not your fault." Kassiel slowly sat in the other chair, his movements graceful, every aspect of him reminding me so much of his father. "After Mother's—your death—I changed my mind about the war. I pleaded with Father for a truce with the angels, but he wasn't ready to listen yet. The war didn't end for many years after that, but I never stopped working toward it, even as I acted as a spy for Lucifer.”